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What caused you to change your technique?
- Thread starter darwin-bass
- Start date
Is raking when you hit a string like D and then instead of using a different finger for the A string below it, you just drag you finger to hit the next note? Cuz if it is then it's a really bad habit and killing it is tough. I have to play rather slowly to play without doing that.
Yes, you would for the first couple weeks. Then it starts to get easier. And easier. Before you know it, you got it mastered.
I've been a proponent of good technique from day one. I studied under a great teacher at college and spent two years developing my technique. I periodically go back and work though my first Simandl book to keep sharp.
I don't understand these people that think technique is our enemy. Good technique makes everything easier. And the three biggest lies one - My favorite star has crap technique so I can too - Well you aint your favorite star. You aren't even a pimple on your favorite star's buttocks; two - if it's comfortable it's right - no, it just means it's comfortable; three - good technique doesn't work for me - well you've probably never really tried it. Trying something once for two minutes doesn't tell you jack. We're not the special little snowflakes we like to believe we are. Good technique is BASED on what works best for most people, it's not decided by some pointy headed intellectuals in a vacuum.
Now get off my lawn and go practice your technique.
I don't understand these people that think technique is our enemy. Good technique makes everything easier. And the three biggest lies one - My favorite star has crap technique so I can too - Well you aint your favorite star. You aren't even a pimple on your favorite star's buttocks; two - if it's comfortable it's right - no, it just means it's comfortable; three - good technique doesn't work for me - well you've probably never really tried it. Trying something once for two minutes doesn't tell you jack. We're not the special little snowflakes we like to believe we are. Good technique is BASED on what works best for most people, it's not decided by some pointy headed intellectuals in a vacuum.
Now get off my lawn and go practice your technique.
But that sounds so hard! Isn't there a quick easy way, or a pill I can take??
Digital boards made it easy to multitrack every show. Listening to the first few of my isolated tracks was horrifying.
I don't know if my technique has changed as much as I have accumulated different approaches that I use from time to time as needed. Alternating index and middle finger plucking, single finger plucking, thumb plucking, floating thumb, thumb anchored on the pickup, thumb anchored on the E string, alternate picking, downstroke picking, one finger per fret, Simandl.... all just tools to be pulled out when the job requires them.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Don't know about bad technique ... I used to play exclusively with a pick. The people I looked up to were a mixed grabbag of players -- Lemmy, Pete Trewavas, Chris Squire, Clive Mitten, even Gene Simmons when I was a kid -- they all used a pick, so when I first picked up a bass I used a pick. Which is weird because I started out on classical guitar, which is all fingers. Fast forward a few years, and man was I sick of dropping picks, losing picks, worrying about where my picks were. Got a gig playing jazz, and just found it easier to navigate without the bit of plastic, then made the jump to upright and that was that. I still have a box full of picks and a habit of keeping one in my pocket just in case, but hardly ever use them any more.
Learning a bit more theory also changed the way I play. Playing with jazz guys, you just can't help but pick up some knowledge, and I've been lucky to play with some well-educated people.
Learning a bit more theory also changed the way I play. Playing with jazz guys, you just can't help but pick up some knowledge, and I've been lucky to play with some well-educated people.
Wish I'd have said all that. But don't worry...I will elsewhereBut that sounds so hard! Isn't there a quick easy way, or a pill I can take??
Back in my college days I signed up for a bass class which was subsequently cancelled. The instructor then offered private lessons but being a starving artist I could only afford a couple.
The first thing he stressed was learning walking bass lines. That relates to technique but so much more... The second element that relates more directly to technique is the floating thumb technique to mute lower strings, especially since I was playing a 5-string.
Otherwise, where one plucks the string, from bridge to the note octave. I'm not sure exactly when I picked that up and it was far more gradual but it makes a huge difference in the tone.
Last thing... I foolishly started out trying to learn more flashy techniques like tapping and chords. Appreciating bass artists like Jamerson, Nathan Watts, Pino, and others brought me back down to earth and the groove.
ETA: Briefly being in a Weezer tribute band over the winter finally prompted me to get better with a pick.
For me it was initially switching to 5 string (muting as noted above), but much much later I started to notice how far off the fingerboard my fingers would move...I worked hard to re-train my hand to stay closer to the strings and it was very beneficial in terms of both fingering speed and stamina. I play much more relaxed now.
I was forced into resting one string below whatever I was playing on which, after some initial struggle early on, really improved my playing overall. I've since moved onto 5 string and find that I can't do that because my brain wants to keep both the B and E muted by resting my thumb in between them when fingering the A D or G. Not the biggest issue because of the string spacing being smaller but makes me wonder if it's improper technique.
Any advice appreciated btw.
Any advice appreciated btw.
What changed mine ?
Recording.
the first recordings I played on in the 80's - 90's, I was just bass guy. Came in, played with the drummer to a click track, fixed a few things, then 6 months later the record comes out and I was like, ok great!
early 2000's I got more into recording, bought my own tape machine, and listening to my isolated bass tracks made me feel really bad, like I was not the bassist I thought I was.
I decided to play a little softer, not dig in as much, and really focus on tight, clearly played notes such that each note meant something. (to me at least!) also made me re-think my tone shaping and how it needs to stack up against having more tracks layered on top of it, depending on the genre. really made me differentiate on where my right hand position is to get a sound that will work well with the song and sit in the mix in a way that it will not be too clanky and not too muddy. again, depending on genre.
now when I record, I approach my playing much differently than playing live.
Recording.
the first recordings I played on in the 80's - 90's, I was just bass guy. Came in, played with the drummer to a click track, fixed a few things, then 6 months later the record comes out and I was like, ok great!
early 2000's I got more into recording, bought my own tape machine, and listening to my isolated bass tracks made me feel really bad, like I was not the bassist I thought I was.
I decided to play a little softer, not dig in as much, and really focus on tight, clearly played notes such that each note meant something. (to me at least!) also made me re-think my tone shaping and how it needs to stack up against having more tracks layered on top of it, depending on the genre. really made me differentiate on where my right hand position is to get a sound that will work well with the song and sit in the mix in a way that it will not be too clanky and not too muddy. again, depending on genre.
now when I record, I approach my playing much differently than playing live.
When I had my first opportunity to play with a great drummer, it caused me to change my technique to start playing along with the drummer instead of charging ahead, focusing strictly on my own execution seemingly in isolation from other players.
Luckily this happened when I was still too young to have hurt anybody.
Luckily this happened when I was still too young to have hurt anybody.
Tendinitis in my right (plucking) hand index finger forced me to ease up on my attack and let the amp do the work
Ha. I’m doing Joe Hubbard’s Foundations course (Highly recommended) now, and one of his rules is “always rake”. I stopped raking years ago so I was doubtful, but I’m starting to really like it. He also touts movable anchor rather than floating thumb, and that’s working well for me too. More tools for the toolbox.
